Deadly Obsession by Katie Reus Read Free Book Online Page A

like anything to you?” Now it was Hailey’s turn to frown.
    “Yeah, why do you have a drawing of my tattoo?”
    Everything around Braden funneled out as her words registered. “Tattoo?” Somehow he managed to squeeze the word out.
    Still frowning, she lifted up the bottom of her jacket and shirt and tugged the side of her jeans down to reveal a delicate, abstract tattoo on her hip. “Yeah, I got it in Japan a couple years ago. Why?”
    Instead of responding, he looked at Hailey who had paled considerably. Obviously this wasn’t the reaction she’d been looking for. She’d just wanted Lilly’s opinion on the drawing.
    Pieces of the puzzle came together so quickly he felt as if his brain would overload. He wasn’t the only link to the killer. Somehow Lilly was neck deep in this. She just didn’t know it. And Braden didn’t know how the hell to react. If anything happened to Lilly—he fought the painful jolt that erupted inside him as the image of Lilly stretched out on the coroner’s slab assaulted his mind. All those women had been raped and tortured and to think of Lilly suffering like that…He shuddered. Whatever had happened between them in the past, he didn’t care. He’d make it his mission in life to protect her.

Chapter 3
    As a squad car drove past him, he scooted down a couple more inches in the seat of the truck he’d stolen. From his position in the parking lot next door, he had a perfect view of Mallory Spinoza’s yoga studio. It was early. Too early for her clients to have arrived yet.
    Bad for her, but perfect for him. He glanced at his watch as her sporty red two-door car zoomed into the parking lot. Right on time. She always showed up two hours earlier than her first class of the day. Normally he preferred more time with his women, but he needed to find some sort of release before he took Lilly.
    When he saw Mallory’s car door open, he got out of his truck. The neighboring parking lots were all linked behind the stores lining the main street, giving him the perfect cover.
    “Mallory! Hey, you got a second?” He waved and jogged across the pavement. He kept his voice friendly.
    She shut her door and hoisted a black duffel bag over her shoulder. Her dark ponytail swung slightly as her head tilted to the side. He knew she was wondering where she knew him from. Was racking her brain right now, trying to figure out if he was in one of her classes.
    “Hi.” Placing a hand on his waist, he pretended to be out of breath when he reached her.
    “Uh, hi…” She smiled, her toothpaste commercial teeth flashing brightly.
    “You don’t remember me do you?”
    She let out a self-deprecating chuckle. “No, I’m sorry. Are you in one of my classes?”
    They were barely a foot apart. He grinned and in that moment before he struck, raw fear flared in her dark eyes. She might not even be aware of it, but the animal inside her recognized what he was.
    He punched her once, on the side of the face. He’d tried drugging women before but he preferred this method. It ensured they experienced maximum pain when they finally gained consciousness. She fell against the side of her car and before she could think about struggling, he struck again. This time harder.
    The flat part of his curled fist connected with her jaw. An almost inaudible cracking sound cut through the crisp air. Her slim body slid down the car and crumpled onto the pavement.
    Blood rushed in his ears as it always did before he killed. He glanced around to find everything as it should be. He could hear cars zooming down the main road of town, but there were no signs of life behind her studio. This was almost too easy.
    Hoisting her over his shoulder, he carried her toward the back of her building. Using the keys he found in her purse, he quickly locked them inside. No alarm sounded. But then, he already knew that it wouldn’t.
    At thirty years old, Mallory was about a decade older than the women he normally preferred, but she still had a